Notebook: Skill development, leaderboard and Yann Danis

TROY, NY — There was very little contact during the Albany Devils practice Tuesday at Knickerbacker Ice Arena. Skills Development Coach Pertti Hasanen was in town, leading three on-ice sessions to help improve the players’ stick handling and skating. These days have come to be known as “Pertti Days” and have proven their worth.

“He has a skating aspect to it and gets specific with skating and stick handling from a positional standpoint,” said Head Coach Rick Kowalsky. “I thought it was well received by the players last year. It’s a good change of pace as the season progresses and breaks up some of those long week blocks from game to game. Overall it was a success last season and we’re excited to have him work with us this year.”

The Devils return to a more tactical practice Wednesday at the Knickerbacker. They are in preparation for a three-in-three weekend, including home games Friday and Saturday at Times Union Center.

It’s a skills day for the #ADevils. All part of developing those #sickmitts pic.twitter.com/4GhE5LK0J4

— Albany Devils (@AlbanyDevils) October 18, 2016

• LAST WEEK’S PERFORMERS

Fifteen of the 18 skaters in the lineup during the Devils opening weekend had points and eight of them has multiple points. Here’s a look at last week’s top performers:

• DANIS FINDS A TEAM

Yann Danis, who helped backstop the 2015-16 Devils to the best record in franchise history, has signed with the St. John’s IceCaps. The Devils just defeated the IceCaps, 5-2, Saturday at Times Union Center.

Danis set franchise records a season ago with 28 wins and eight shutouts. He represented the Devils at the 2016 AHL All-Star Classic and finished third in the league with a 2.22 goals-against average and second for shutouts.